Wichita eagle., 1887-10-01
swss;SSAilAE
I1m Eagle
THE LOVE OF CALIBAN.


the purple bordered linens at the windows
swayed in The hot wind There were purple
bordered linens, too, on the couch where the
Lady Lucrece lay-one cannot do much ct
noontide in Pisa when it is midsummer. The
heavens seemed to hang down near to the
languorous earth; palpitant white heat
shimmered on the streets; the lazaroni slept;
at the bath houses the attendants went about
in shifts of nren; the Shops and the stores
were silent; it was too hot even to hate. Ii
one had a vengeance to take he waited III
nightfali, when it should be cooler. And the
Lady Lucrece, fragrant from her bath, lay
on her couch amid the fresh linens.
@How many hours till moonhghtf she
asked of her maid.
ask and more, gracious mistress" replied
the maid. drowsilv: and she wiped her fore
head upon her sleeve.
3Ah.n sighed the Lady Lucrece, bring in
Massimiliani" A moment later queer,
haltiug step was heard on the tiled floor in
the hall outside. The curtains at the door
were the green which the sea wears III the
morning. They parted, and Massimiiiani
stood between them. Had nature had her
way he would have been tall, but some mys-
FERROUS force had bent him almost double,
and his bumped shoulders and heavy head
hung always toward the earth. He was not
merely grotesque, he was hldeous. There are
men that nature has jested with; Massimi-
Iiani she had cursed. He made a salutation
with his hands-he could bend no lower.
u am forever bowling" he said to his mis-
tress. "My grace was so great the first time
had occasion to make a salute to lady,
that was never allowed to rise"
"Who was the lady?" queried his mistress,
shutting her eyes as he stood before her.
@The only woman with whom l shall ever
ie-Mother Earth"
81 do not want gibes this afternoon" said
his mistress.
Massimiliani spread out his huge dark
hands and smiled.
"Then my gracious lady did not send fol
meq"
~Send for youl Yes, sent for you"
at cannot be. You have forgotten. Fol-
what am but gibe? 1t cannot be a ques
ton of wisdom, or it would not lie between 4
woman and q fool Perhaps it was matter
of grace, and you want me TO dance, or 9
matter of beauty, and you wish me to smile
or question of sweet sounds, and you wish
me to sing"
The Lady Lucrece sat up and put the damp
hair back from her brow.
II had sooner hear a chorus of ravens" she
said, but she laughed as she said it. No oin
minded Massimiliani, and she pulled at the
end of his long, hanging sleeve TO make him
squat upon the loor by her feet, which he did
with a knocking gesture.
"Princes have been here before me, " said he.
The lady looked naughty, but she was not
i'll pleased.
at does relate to singing" said she.
Massimiliani leaped to his feet and seized
some roses that lay at the foot of the couch
"The flowersi" he cried, and flung them
from the easement.
His mistress stared at him in amazement
@From the Lord Ascanio,n she replied me-
chemically.
"There was a tarantuia among them. Are
you SO good madame, that your lovers must
send you to heavens"
"Fool!o cried the Lady, angrily, there was
no tarentula among the roses"
Massimiliani sat down again upon the floor
go On with your tale" said he; Il am 10
greater fool than l was before"
The lady Lucrece sat bordering, with hei
elbows on her knees, and her flushed cheek il
her hands.
"Fool," said the lady Lucrece. and her
breath came faster, "you have not heard, have
YOU
Sod gave me straight ears. the saints be
thanked" the Jester sardonically interrupted.
Might after night, since the summer
came, a voice below my window? 1t always
comes when the shadow of the balcony hides
his figure
THAT he may not see your face. if you lean
out, and so lose his inspirations" interiected
the dwarf The lady struck him on the ea1
with her jeweled hand. The blow was light
but the dwarf shiyered. "The voice." said he,
3what Was it likel" The lady fell back again
into Der old attitude. The flowing sleeves
dropped from her arms. The loose strings Of
pearls with which they were wreathed tum
bled down to her elbows. Massimiliani spread
himself fat upon the floor, and bracing hi:
heavy head against his hands, watched her as
O tiger does his prey.
~Ah, fooll l think you know / never
loved Men are SO little. could rule then
all; do not want a man that / can rule
But his voice-it sings of war, of great deeds
terrible and grand. And yet, Massimiliani
it sings of love-of love which counts power
and money. and name as nothing. 1t does
not sue for love; it demands it as a right
The verses which ne sings are no other mans
they are his own, and he weaveS them as he
sings He does not mind that am great, he
loves me for my soul he loves me for my
pride, for my will, for my scorn of petty
things lie knows me rs l am. He is the
first living creature who has ever done so. II
mounts-thiS yoice-up 10 my lattice like q
vine IL runs through gay melodies like
ripping water. 1t grows sad as the voice
of the night bird. l weep when it sings OF
death; l throw up my arms and walk tbs
room, strong as giant, when it sings of war
and when it sings of love, fool, bury
my face in my arms and blush. All day
dreams at night 1 hear naught but it. 1
dream how we shall meet and whore. l am
sure he must DO beautiful
A sound from the man at her feet caused
her to stop. The fool had rolled on his back
in a CONFUSION of laughter, and the tears
trickled down his cheeks.
"Fooli' cried the lady, springing from the
couch in anger.
"Mother of Godi" exclaimed the dwarf.
"Will the eternal SHOWS melt and the desert
blossom' VIII the tower fall' Shall / be
straight VIII God take pityi VIII my lady
lover He threw his jangiing punchinello at
at her feet, and tore his cap from his head.
"Wear them he cried, my bauble and my
capt never cracked so excellent jest"
'Slave!" The lady grew pale with rage.
Tomorrow you shall see. for 1 shall find
which of my courtiers it is that sings thus,
and viii marry him and none but him"
''None but him, gracious ladyi And al
these perfumed knights have been praying to
you while moons grew great ana faded into
sheaths again and waned to darkness, and
these that hold a courtly contest for your
handf'
''I viii marry him alone who knows my